Now, 'humiliated' female footballers get rewarded

Jharkhand government give gifts galore to u-14 girls' team that was made to 'sweep floors' for their passports before traveling to Spain and securing third position in an international meet

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has announced a cash reward for the girls football team who finished third in the Gasteiz Cup, an Under-14 tournament held in Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain.

The government today rewarded the Yuwa India under-14 girls football tea with the Chief Minister handing over the cash prize and sporting kits to the 18 tribal girls, besides allocating land for a stadium.

"To encourage the excellent performance by the little girls in Spain, the government has decided to give a cash prize of Rs 21,000 to each of the participating player, sporting kit to the team and a five acre ground to enable them carry their football skills further," Soren said.

"The ground has been identified at Bahumaja in Ormanjhi (on the outskirts of Ranchi), and within six months it will be developed into stadium for the children.

"Later, it will be expanded into residential sports complex to enable children to get training staying there," he said.

13-year-old Rinki Kumari had on Thursday recalled how a panchayat sevak had allegedly slapped her and another teammate and made them sweep his office room when they went to request for birth certificates to get the passport done ahead of their visit to Spain.

"Action has already been taken. The government will ensure preventing such incidents in future," Soren said when asked on the erring panchayat sevak, whom the girls had accused of humiliation.

The panchayat sevak was removed from his post by the district administration.